Moon Alert

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Taurus.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Your efforts to deal with financial matters might be challenged by someone in authority. (Probably, you didn’t see it coming, which means you’re shocked or surprised.) Fortunately, you have abundant energy today, which means you can deal with whatever is on your plate.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Today the moon is in your sign lined up with unpredictable Uranus and at odds with stern Saturn. This makes you restless and impulsive. Be careful because if you go off half-cocked, a boss or someone in authority might be unhappy. This means you have to monitor yourself and be aware.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

You might feel restless today. This could be because you’re involved with younger people? Steer clear of contradicting rules, regulations and laws today because you might get caught. Don’t be impulsive. (If you’re going to draw on the wall with crayons — do it behind the sofa.)

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

A friend or a member of a group might surprise you by pointing out some restrictions or limitations to funding or how to share property. They might voice a different value system from what you believe. (Handle this with diplomacy because someone important is watching.)

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

You have strong opinions, which might get you in trouble. A boss, parent or someone in a position of authority might do or say something that surprises you, which puts you at odds with a friend or partner. It’s a bit complicated, so please count to three before you speak or act. Be careful.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Something to do with travel plans, legal matters, school schedules or the media will surprise you or catch you off guard today. Keep your wits about you so that you know what’s going on, and you are well-prepared enough to deal with the unexpected. If necessary, do your homework.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Make friends with your bank account and stay in touch with issues about shared property or insurance matters because something unexpected might happen. When it comes to money and finances, we don’t like surprises, do we? Stay on top of your game.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Someone close to you might surprise you by saying or doing something you least expect. Or perhaps they are about something? (Whaaat?) They might want to change the rules for how things are done. Or perhaps, they’re reacting to the fact that you’re energetic and working hard?

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

This is a curious day because your work routine might be interrupted, possibly because you feel rebellious about something? Or perhaps technology will create a glitch? Because you’re in a playful mood, people in authority might think that you’re not taking things seriously. Are you?

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Parents need to know that they must be vigilant because this is an accident-prone day for their kids. Meanwhile, expect a surprise invitation, or perhaps social plans will be canceled? (Guard against sports accidents.) Someone might withhold money or squeeze the purse strings too tight today.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Your home routine will be interrupted today, almost certainly. It might be challenging dealing with a parent or an older family member. Nevertheless, you are mentally vigorous and keen to communicate to others, and you will take whatever happens in your stride.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Pay attention to everything you say and do because this is a mildly accident-prone day for your sign. Some of you are also worried about something, which can be a drag. Fortunately, your finances look good today. (That’s reassuring.)

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actress Allison Williams (1988) shares your birthday today. You are wise and knowledgeable. You can also be fast thinking, speedy and impulsive. You like to be well-organized because you have high expectations for yourself and others in how things are done. Your ambition will grow in the coming year because you intend to build something either concrete in a literal sense or create more structure in your world.

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On a night when the defense bounced back from an embarrassment in Minnesota, there were moments to build on. But key plays down the stretch still weren’t made, and the Bulls fell in Memphis for their third straight loss.

These losses weigh heavily on the Bulls. Coach Billy Donovan swears they do.

“These guys really care,” he said Monday before the Bulls fells 101-90 to the Grizzlies in Memphis — their third straight defeat as the losses of recent weeks continue to pile up. “I think there’s definitely disappointment when we don’t play to the level we want to play at. But the other part of that, too, is you’ve got 48 minutes to not feel that way. So I do think they’ve put a lot into it, I do think they work hard, I do think they care. I’ve never, ever once since I’ve been here seen a group come into the locker room and have a carefree ‘Who cares?’ [attitude]. There’s a genuine heartache when those guys lose.”

And after this loss, it’s obvious where they still need to put more work in. Fouling and turnovers remain issues. And unless the Bulls start defending at a consistently higher level with 19 regular-season games left, they might be able to retain their hold on a play-in game but likely are headed for a one-and-done postseason.

Defensive miscues in Sunday’s loss to the Timberwolves were embarrassing; Donovan called players out on it, and they knew. On Monday, the defense was better overall, but the miscues continued, especially on help defense and in crunch time.

“Working still,” said guard Zach LaVine, whose 21 points led the team. “We’ve got to start figuring it out. We just didn’t close. It’s frustrating. We’re talented enough to win these games, but we’re just not getting the results. It’s just upsetting.’’

On several occasions against the Grizzlies (27-25), the Bulls’ defense — new faces and all — seemed to be in sync. Patrick Williams made a great play in the first quarter, leaving his man in the corner and coming backside on a lob attempt for a tip away. LaVine fought through a screen by Jonas Valanciunas (game-high 26 points) and got a block. And Thad Young did what he does best, drawing another charge.

Now for the bad — and it was bad. With the Bulls (22-31) trailing by seven with 2:40 left, LaVine made two free throws to cut it to five. A key stop was needed but didn’t come as Ja Morant hit the defense with a hesitation dribble and layup. After a miss by LaVine, Kyle Anderson hit a clutch three-pointer, leading to a turnover by LaVine off a double dribble.

The wheels were officially off. Valanciunas scored on a nasty put-back dunk with 1:39 left, and the Bulls were down by 12.

On a night when the Bulls’ offense was struggling (5-for-31 from three-point range), they hurt themselves on defense by chasing guards over screens rather than fighting through them and missing help assignments.

“We were more physical — probably the most physical we’ve been,’’ said center Daniel Theis, who scored 18 points off the bench. “Right now, one category hurts us. We’ve got to put it all together in one game.

“We definitely want to win now. Our goal is to make the playoffs. We’ve got to put a complete game together.”

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he state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is investigating the shooting, identified the officer as Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran who has been placed on administrative leave.

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — The police officer who fatally shot a Black man during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb apparently intended to fire a Taser, not a handgun, as the man struggled with police, the city’s police chief said Monday.

Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon described the shooting death Sunday of 20-year-old Daunte Wright as “an accidental discharge.” It happened as police were trying to arrest Wright on an outstanding warrant. The shooting sparked violent protests in a metropolitan area already on edge because of the trial of the first of four police officers charged in George Floyd’s death.

“I’ll Tase you! I’ll Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser!” the officer is heard shouting on her body cam footage released at a news conference. She draws her weapon after the man breaks free from police outside his car and gets back behind the wheel.

After firing a single shot from her handgun, the car speeds away, and the officer is heard saying, “Holy (expletive)! I shot him.”

President Joe Biden urged calm on Monday, following a night where officers in riot gear clashed with demonstrators. The president said he watched the body camera footage.

“We do know that the anger, pain and trauma amidst the Black community is real,” Biden said from the Oval Office. But, he added, that “does not justify violence and looting.”

The governor instituted another dusk-to-dawn curfew, and law enforcement agencies stepped up their presence across the Minneapolis area. The number of Minnesota National Guard troops was expected to more than double to over 1,000 by Monday night.

While dozens of officers in riot gear and troops guarded the Brooklyn Center police station, more than 100 protesters chanted Wright’s name and hoisted signs that read “Why did Daunte die?” and “Don’t shoot.” Some passing cars flew Black Lives Matter flags out of their windows and honked in support.

Organizers from the Movement for Black Lives, a national coalition of more than 150 Black-led political and advocacy groups, pointed to Wright’s killing as yet another reason why cities must take up proposals for defunding an “irreparably broken, racist system.”

Wright “should not have had his life ripped from him last night. The fact that police killed him just miles from where they murdered George Floyd last year is a slap in the face to an entire community who continues to grieve,” said Karissa Lewis, the coalition’s national field director.

Gannon said at a news conference that the officer made a mistake, and he released the body camera footage less than 24 hours after the shooting.

The footage showed three officers around a stopped car, which authorities said was pulled over because it had expired registration tags. When another officer attempts to handcuff Wright, a second officer tells Wright he’s being arrested on a warrant. That’s when the struggle begins, followed by the shooting. Then the car travels several blocks before striking another vehicle.

“As I watch the video and listen to the officer’s command, it is my belief that the officer had the intention to deploy their Taser but instead shot Mr. Wright with a single bullet,” Gannon said. “This appears to me from what I viewed and the officer’s reaction in distress immediately after that this was an accidental discharge that resulted in the tragic death of Mr. Wright.”

A female passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the crash, authorities said. Katie Wright said that passenger was her son’s girlfriend.

The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is investigating the shooting, identified the officer as Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran who has been placed on administrative leave.

Gannon would not say whether she would be fired.

“I think we can watch the video and ascertain whether she will be returning,” the chief said.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said any decision on charges against the officer will be made by the Washington County attorney under an agreement adopted last year by several county prosecutors aimed at avoiding conflicts of interest. Freeman has been frequently criticized by activists in Minneapolis over his charging decisions involving deadly use of force by police.

Gannon would not name the officer or provide any other details about her, including her race, other than describing her as “very senior.” He would not say whether she would be fired following the investigation.

“I think we can watch the video and ascertain whether she will be returning,” the chief said.

Court records show Wright was being sought after failing to appear in court on charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police in June. In that case, a statement of probable cause said police got a call about a man waving a gun who was later identified as Wright.”

Wright’s mother, Katie Wright, said her son called her as he was getting pulled over.

“All he did was have air fresheners in the car, and they told him to get out of the car,” Wright said. During the call, she said she heard scuffling and then someone saying “Daunte, don’t run” before the call ended. When she called back, her son’s girlfriend answered and said he had been shot.

AP

Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott called the shooting “deeply tragic.”

“We’re going to do everything we can to ensure that justice is done and our communities are made whole,” he said.

Wright’s family hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represented the Floyd family in its $27 million settlement with the city of Minneapolis.

“This level of lethal force was entirely preventable and inhumane,” Crump said in a statement. “What will it take for law enforcement to stop killing people of color?”

Speaking before the unrest Sunday night, Wright’s mother urged protesters in Brooklyn Center, a city of about 30,000 people on the northwest border of Minneapolis, to stay peaceful and focused on the loss of her son.

Biden referred to her comments on Monday, saying “we should listen to Daunte’s mom calling for peace and calm.” The president said he had not yet called the family but that his prayers were with them.

Shortly after the shooting, demonstrators began to gather, with some jumping atop police cars. Marchers also descended on the Brooklyn Center Police Department, where rocks and other objects were thrown at officers. About 20 businesses were broken into at the city’s Shingle Creek shopping center, authorities said.

To guard against more unrest, authorities accelerated security measures planned for when the Floyd case goes to the jury. Gov. Tim Walz warned anyone who chooses to “exploit these tragedies” with violence “can rest assured that the largest police presence in Minnesota history” will be prepared to arrest law breakers.

At least a half-dozen businesses began boarding up their windows along Minneapolis’ Lake Street, the scene of some of the most intense violence after Floyd’s death. National Guard vehicles were deployed to a few major intersections, and a handful of soldiers in camouflage, some carrying assault-style weapons, could also be seen. Several professional sports teams in Minneapolis called off games because of safety concerns.

The trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis officer charged in Floyd’s death, continued Monday. Floyd, a Black man, died May 25 after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck. Prosecutors say Floyd was pinned for 9 minutes, 29 seconds. The judge in that case refused Monday to sequester the jury after a defense attorney argued that the panel could be influenced by the prospect of what might happen as a result of their verdict.

___

Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, Tim Sullivan in Minneapolis, Aaron Morrison in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Jonathan Lemire in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Mohamed Ibrahim is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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The chain that owns the ArcLight Cinemas multiplexes in Lincoln Park and Glenview announced Monday that its theaters, closed for more than a year, will stay shut for good.

“This was not the outcome anyone wanted,” said a statement on the website of parent company Pacific Theatres, “but despite a huge effort that exhausted all potential options, the company does not have a viable way forward.”

ArcLight theaters closed in March 2020, expressing hope at the time that it would welcome back patrons once the country “made it past the current health crisis.” While other movie chains made short-lived attempts at reopening last year, and many now are back in business under the capacity limitations imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, ArcLight has kept its doors shut nonstop.

It’s the latest blow for movie fans in the Chicago market, where AMC announced the permanent closure of its Navy Pier Imax screen and Cinemark shut down its multiplexes in Evanston and Bloomingdale.

ArcLight also operated six sites in the Los Angeles market as well as locations in Boston and the San Diego and Washington, D.C., areas.

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Fox Corp. is standing behind Tucker Carlson after the Anti-Defamation League last week called for the company to fire the opinion host for his on-air defense of the white-supremacist “great replacement” theory.

In a letter sent Sunday to the civil rights group and shared with The Associated Press, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said Carlson had “decried and rejected replacement theory” when he said during the Thursday evening segment, “White replacement theory? No, no, this is a voting rights question.”

The ADL argued in a reply sent Monday to Murdoch that Carlson used white-supremacist language even if he claimed he didn’t.

“Mr. Carlson’s attempt to at first dismiss this theory, while in the very next breath endorsing it under cover of ‘a voting rights question,’ does not give him free license to invoke a white supremacist trope,” wrote ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.

The replacement conspiracy theory holds that people of color are replacing white people in the West, enabled by Jews and progressive politicians.

During a guest appearance Thursday on “Fox News Primetime,” Carlson “embraced a foundational theory of white supremacy,” the ADL said.

During the show, Carlson said “the left and all the little gatekeepers on Twitter become literally hysterical if you use the term ‘replacement,’ if you suggest that the Democratic Party is trying to replace the current electorate of voters now casting ballots with new people, more obedient voters from the Third World.” He added that he had “less political power because they are importing a brand new electorate.”

The ADL also listed numerous instances Carlson has used anti-immigrant language in the past, including blaming immigration for making the U.S. “poorer, and dirtier, and more divided,” and questioned whether white supremacy was real.

Murdoch noted in his letter that the ADL had once honored his father, Rupert Murdoch, with a leadership award. The ADL’s Greenblatt replied that the award was granted “over a decade ago, but let me be clear that we would not do so today, and it does not absolve you, him, the network, or its board from the moral failure of not taking action against Mr. Carlson.”

A Fox spokesperson declined to comment on the ADL’s Monday letter.

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Did Chicago’s embattled “Windy City Rehab” host Alison Victoria clinch her second consecutive win on tonight’s finale of the HGTV series “Rock the Block?”

We’ll reveal all in a bit, but here’s a look at what happened this season and on tonight’s finale hosted by Ty Pennington.

The four teams — consisting of Alison Victoria and her teammate, Ontario-based general contractor Mike Holmes (“Holmes on Homes”), Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent (“Nate and Jeremiah: Save My House”), David Bromstad (“My Lottery Dream Home”) and Tiffany Brooks (“50K Three Ways”) and Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt (“100 Day Dream Home) — had six weeks to add the most value to each of four identical homes on a $225,000 budget. The winners receive the chance to name the block and brag about it until next season.

Victoria and Holmes won two of this season’s five challenges, knocking it out of the park when it came to kitchen/dining rooms. In week two, the first floor living spaces were on the line and Bromstad and Brooks emerged victorious. In week three, the competition focused on upstairs main bedroom and bathroom, and Victoria and Holmes won again. Berkus and Brent won the basement challenge in week four, turning the space into a separate dwelling/in-laws suite complete with kitchen, bathroom, main bedroom and bathroom. In week five, Berkus and Brent were the champs once again (the judges loved the three-season porch and the close attention to detail of the designers’ work).

Tonight, three judges arrived to give each home their professional once-over. It also marked the first time the teams got to tour their competitions’ homes. In addition, each team got to use up whatever remaining funds they had in their budgets to give the homes any added oomph they could to sway the judges’ votes.

Three judges were on tap for the finale: former “Rock the Block” champ and host of “Help! I Wrecked My House” Jasmine Roth; realtors Ken and Anita Corsini of “Flip or Flop: Atlanta,” who are also the builders of the homes and will be selling them when the show is over.

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt decided to spend their remaining $10,000 on a home fitness center, with a glass garage door and artificial turf. They extended the backyard deck to the indoor gym to make a seamless transition. “No matter what, as far as I’m concerned, it’s our street,” Brian declared.

Berkus and Brent took their $5,000 bonus from last week to create a home theater room in the basement. (And, for some levity, Berkus showed up sporting an identical set of sweats and jacket to those of Bromstad.) “This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Berkus muses.

Victoria and Holmes had $8,300 left in their budget. The opted for a backup generator for “peace of mind” and “to make the home the healthiest and safest on the block,” Holmes said. Energy recover and replenishing air filtration system in the attic. “What [these items] add in value is so important,” Victoria said. “I love our house. I would live in our house,” Victoria said at one point.

Bromstad and Brooks opted for adding an additional bathroom, but ran into a huge obstacle when they removed wallpaper and stripped away the wall behind it, realizing they had no color paint left and no money left for labor to help them. They jumped right in to prime and paint. And they were happy with the results. They also zhooshed up the family room.

The results?

— House Berkus/Brent: The judges were wowed by the front porch; loved the kitchen island (“exquisite” countertops) and pass-through with its wood countertops with inset leather); loved the brickwork on all four sides of the exteriors; did not like the curtain wall in the main bedroom; loved the home theater; and they were amazed by the full in-law suite in the basement.

— House Victoria/Holmes: judges were chomping at the bit to see the “Alison-designed kitchen” — and they were blown away; admired the flow of the kitchen, dining room and living room and loved the brick feature in the kitchen; the wood wall and ceiling in the main bedroom impressed, as did the massive closet; loved the tile and attention to detail (“two words: ombre tile!”), but wondered if all the work was going to translate to value; lamented the missing outdoor staircase connecting the deck to the patio; putting green limited the use of the backyard.

–House Bromstad/Brooks: judges were wowed from the entryway (“they went bold!”); loved the first-floor bedroom and on-suite; the kitchen was called “a statement” and loved the view of the lake from the sink; loved the mudroom and reading nook; did not think there was enough closet space; main bath seemed “cramped”; did not like their lack of use of outdoor space.

— House Kleinschmidt: judges liked the open and traditional look of the entryway andthe first floor home office/bedroom option, though the lack of a first-floor full bath puzzled them; the kitchen floored all three judges, especially the two dishwashers; the electric fireplace was a plus; they were amazed by the deck pergola that operated by voice command; the main upstairs bedroom and on-suite blew them away as did the adjacent laundry room; the bowling alley/game room though a huge wow factor, proved to be a huge con in terms of return on the dollars spent; the fitness room was a “smart use of space.”

The winners?

In the end, the Kleinschmidt’s slow-and-steady, family-friendly design won over the judges and the whole competition, even thought the team did not win a single individual challenge over the course of the series. Roth and the Corsinis felt the two used their money well to make upgrades that truly added value — not just great design or materials. By connecting the deck, patio and home gym, the duo made the home more functional. Even though the bowling alley was tough to appraise, it didn’t take away from the value added elsewhere. The home’s appraised value: $625,000.

Welcome to the newly named Kleinschmidt Way!

“I swear, I’m saying it right here,” Victoria said, laughing. “I’m never doing this show again.”

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Almost every part of Brandon Hagel’s play this year has blown away expectations. He could easily be one of the NHL’s rookie scoring leaders — if not for his finishing struggles.

But on Monday, he ripped the best shot of his Blackhawks tenure to date at the biggest moment.

Hagel’s overtime winner, which flew past goalie Joonas Korpisalo’s glove as he slid left to right, gave the Hawks a 4-3 win and a series sweep of the Blue Jackets.

“[To] finally get a shooting goal…it’s nice to get it out of the way,” Hagel said. “I know I can score in this league. So [I want to] just build off stuff like that.”

Monday’s win culminated a chaotic deadline day in which the organization executed four trades, creating an emotional environment for the coaching staff and players.

“You’re talking about lives and friendships,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “Those are the guys you go to war with, and then all of a sudden, they’re not there. It’s a tough day. And it’s tough to play a game on that day. Our guys did a really good job of understanding that, while it’s hard, [we needed to] find a way to…win important points.”

It proved to be a chaotic game, too.

On defense, Adam Boqvist left in the first period after taking a puck to the face and did not return due to concussion symptoms — a massive blow for Boqvist and the Hawks moving forward.

Nikita Zadorov was healthy scratched in favor of Riley Stillman, who made his Hawks debut. And Calvin de Haan played despite leaving Saturday’s game with a hip pointer, then tweaked his injury again midgame and “struggled with his mobility” the rest of the night.

“He gutted it out,” Colliton said. “He was in a tough spot and we needed those minutes.”

On the forward end, Brett Connolly also made his Hawks debut and scored a crucial third-period goal that briefly gave his new team the lead.

The Hawks rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits via Duncan Keith and Phillipp Kurashev tallies, then saw their own 3-2 advantage equalized by a Patrik Laine wondergoal before finally prevailing in overtime.

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Since the trade deadline changed the roster and Donovan finally settled on a starting unit, the results in that opening quarter have been better. That’s why Donovan wants to stay the course with the group for now.

The sample size is still small for Billy Donovan, but the Bulls coach isn’t just relying on the analytics in his decision-making process.

He’s relying on what he’s seen.

That’s why for now the current starting lineup will remain the current starting lineup, even with some shaky moments by the group since the roster was completely altered at the Mar. 25 trade deadline.

“One of the things we try and do is after like every 10 games maybe sit down and look at the analytical reports, and I know with this group it’s been maybe somewhat of a small sample size because there haven’t been a lot of games, but actually that lineup has not been bad starting,’’ Donovan said on Monday. “It’s been OK. … I don’t feel like we’re getting out to these starts where we’re digging ourselves out of holes.’’

He actually has a point, even with a handful of bad losses for this starting lineup.

The lineup was actually short-handed the first few games in which Nikola Vucevic was made the new man in the middle, that’s why there was a 33-20 first-quarter deficit in San Antonio and then a 34-29 deficit at Golden State.

Zach LaVine missed the game against the Suns, but that first-quarter deficit was just two, 39-37.

With LaVine back in the starting lineup against Utah, the first-quarter deficit was just 26-25 and then 28-25 against the Nets – a game the Bulls eventually won.

Against the Pacers, Raptors and Hawks, however, the starting unit built first-quarter leads, averaging 32 points per game in that stanza, while allowing 26.7 points.

Has it been perfect?

Absolutely not, but it’s definitely been sturdier than some of the holes the previous starting rotations put Donovan & Co. in before the changes were made.

“Maybe like a little bit earlier in the year, we obviously got hit with some injuries and some guys out, but once we came out of the All-Star Break I think that was the time we made a lineup change,’’ Donovan said. “I don’t feel that’s the case right now just looking at some of the numbers and just watching us play.’’

Temple run

Veteran Garrett Temple has now missed eight game was an injured hamstring, but there was at least some good news for the guard.

The major obstacle that was holding him back was his inability to get in some straight-ahead running and sprinting pain-free, and he cleared that the last few days. What Donovan wants to now see is how he holds up in a few contact practices, which will come this week.

“The hard part for him is just because the four games in five nights, we’ve had very, very limited contact – we’ve had no contact – he needs some contact before we take another step,’’ Donovan said.

Closing time

Forward Troy Brown Jr. doesn’t know how many closing opportunities he’ll get the remaining 19 games, and that’s why getting that shot in the loss to the Timberwolves meant so much.

Acquired in the three-way deal with the Wizards and Boston, Brown is seeing his stock rise, which included his first impactful moment with his new team, scoring 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds in 22 minutes of work.

“I’m just trying to make the most out of my minutes,’’ Brown said. “It’s very cool that the Bulls took a chance on me. I’m just trying to work my butt off, make some shots, just making an impact on the game, all the little stuff. The shots will come. But I’m not really worried about those at the end of the day.’’

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“We’re not going to win the World Series now,” closer Liam Hendriks said. “Let’s stop talking about it. Let’s just figure out how to win, let’s figure out how to win April.”

The White Sox are struggling with runners in scoring position, their highly touted bullpen has four blown saves and they are tied for first in the AL with nine errors.

Other than that, everything was fine through their first nine games heading into a four-game series with the AL Central rival Indians at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Are they as advertised? As self-advertised?

You know, all that World Series talk and whatnot.

They say it’s much too soon to surrender, and of course they are right.

“We need to be realistic here. We have played nine games,” Jose Abreu said through translator Billy Russo Monday morning.

Perhaps the Sox talked themselves up too much. But who can blame them? They weren’t the only ones talking, and the soaring confidence wasn’t viewed as a bad thing. Oddsmakers and national media also chimed in with love for the Sox.

A 4-5 start has not doomed them, but it served as a reality check. Perhaps it’s time to tap the brakes.

“We need to go back to square one as a group and take it game by game,” closer Liam Hendriks said Monday. “We’re not going to win the World Series now. Let’s stop talking about it. Let’s just figure out how to win, let’s figure out how to win April, figure out how to win this series [against the Indians]. And let’s go to war.”

There is this: The Sox are playing without the slugger some thought would carry them even more than Abreu — Eloy Jimenez. And Tim Anderson, expected to come off the injured list Thursday, has been missed. Those are two Silver Slugger Award winnings. And a team that in recent years swung too freely is showing more patience and was tied for first in the major leagues with the Dodgers (who played one more game) with 50 walks and was first in the AL with with a .354 on-base percentage.

Yermin Mercedes’ unexpected monster start helped, but “we are definitely missing Eloy’s bat in our lineup. That’s not a secret,” Abreu said.

“The things that Eloy can do with his bat not everyone can do. Even though we have a talented group of young kids, it’s not easy for them to fill that void.”

Abreu, the reigning MVP who led the AL in RBI the last two seasons, has hit two grand slams but said he has left six or seven runs on the bases by not coming through. In their previous seven games the Sox batting .205 with runners in scoring position.

Hendriks, signed for $54 million in the offseason, blew a save against the Royals Sunday after Adam Eaton dramatically homered in the bottom of the eighth to give the Sox a lead.

The Sox goal remains the World Series, Hendriks said, and it’s imperative that they envision it happening, and believe that it can happen.

“You envision winning a ring, you envision doing all these things, but in the same sense, you’ve got to remember the small things that come into the day to day life of being a baseballer,” Hendriks said.

Focus on the day to day things like routine, batting practice swings, pitchers’ flat-ground throwing sessions, Hendriks said, and make it become second nature.

“Once July and August come, all that sort of stuff hits and then you’re rolling all the way to the playoffs,” he said.

If the Sox and their fans should know by know, manager Tony La Russa isn’t going to knock his players in public. He has downplayed the bullpen’s failures and defending the defense.

He said he agrees with Hendriks’ take on living in the now. He sees his players pressing a bit.

“I actually think that some of the executions are not quite what they have to be because they’re trying too hard,” he said. “And I applaud that.

“The guys want it, and trying too hard is an early issue that’s a healthy one.”

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Averages rise when batted balls’ velocity breaks 90 mph.

Almost anything new brings a learning curve. Baseball metrics are no different as fans try to put the information they’re given into context.

So it goes with exit velocities.

Last year for the White Sox, Jose Abreu (92.9), Eloy Jimenez (92.4), Nomar Mazara (91), James McCann (90.5) and Yasmani Grandal (90.1) had average exit velocities that topped 90. Hardest-hit balls were by Luis Robert (115.8) and Abreu (114).

Kyle Schwarber led Cubs hitters with an average exit velocity of 92.8 mph, while David Bote (92.4) and Ian Happ (91.1) also exceeded 90. Schwarber (114.9), Anthony Rizzo (114.5) and Willson Contreras (114.1) exceeded 114 mph on their hardest-hit balls.

It’s too early for 2021 data to have much meaning, but through Sunday, Robert led the Sox with a 92.6 average exit velocity, and Javy Baez topped the Cubs at 91.6.

For that to be more than trivia, we need context. Do higher exit velocities translate into greater chances of success at the plate? How hard does a ball have to be hit?

For that, we can turn to a table at Baseball Savant, https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_hit_probability?year=2020&type=ev

With year-by-year data starting in 2015, Baseball Savant’s information pairs exit velocities with measures that include batting averages and weighted on-base averages. In wOBA, offensive events are weighted according to their average impact on scoring. Average wOBAs have hovered around .320 in recent years.

In 2020, the Sox’ wOBA was .334, with Abreu 10th in MLB at .411. The Cubs were at .309, with Happ leading at .369.

Higher exit velocities have higher BAs and wOBAs than lower velocities. Some soft-hit balls go for base hits, of course. One 2020 hit exited at all of 13 mph.

Averages climb rapidly when exit velocities surpass 90 mph. In 2020, averages were .213 BA and .226 wOBA at 91 mph, then .248/.254 at 92, .253/.274 at 93, .283/.306 at 94 and .285/.319 at 95.

At 96 mph, numbers started to resemble star caliber at .316/.363. Average wOBA surpassed .400 with an Abreu-like .415 to go with a .353 BA at 97.

From there, the sky was the limit, with 100 mph bringing .451/.599. The top exit velocity with more than 100 fair balls plus foul balls resulting in either a putout or error was 111, with an astronomical .784 BA and 1.108 wOBA.

Data from other seasons tell similar stories. Hitters generate average production as they surpass the low 90s, then produce at star level from the mid-90s on up.

Exit velocities also equate to home-run probability. No home run was hit at less than 87 mph last season. The lowest exit velocity at which more than 10% of batted balls were home runs was 100, with 11.2%. At levels with at least 100 batted balls, home runs exceeded 30% at 111 (32.5), 112 (31.1), 113 (32.5) and 114 (31.1).

Fans will get used to hearing velocities instead of “hard hit,” but until it becomes second nature, understand that production doesn’t reach star level until about the mid-90s.

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